‘That Josh was stabbed—’
‘Yes. Jo told me.’
‘—several times.’
‘Richard said Josh had been stabbed several times?’
‘His exact words were “multiple stab wounds”,’ Daniel says.
Another blow, and this time it winds me.Josh was stabbed several times.I repeat Daniel’s words in my head, over and over. And Richard’s:multiple stab wounds.
I turn to look at Daniel, trying to work out what he’s thinking. But his expression is impassive. I didn’t know Josh had been stabbed more than once. Somehow, this makes it worse. More violent, if that’s possible. It can’t be self-defence; it can’t be an accident. It suggests a frenzy. It smacks of pent-up hatred, vengeance.
I hear Iris’s voice in my head.I hate him, Mum. I wish he was dead.How many times did she repeat those to sentences to me? After every nightmare, after every failed attempt to get her life back on track. I shut out her words.
The Knolls obviously believe Iris killed their son. How long before the police suspect her, too? Iris had every reason to get even with Josh. But I know my daughter. She’s not capable of stabbing anyone. Not several times. Not at all.
Chapter 8
Ash
NOW
‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ Ash asks, pacing up and down the living room of his house, his mobile pressed to his ear.
It’s a bad idea. Carla must have known he wouldn’t be happy about this. He doesn’t know why she has rung to tell him.
‘Ash, for the past year, we’ve been pushing Iris to go out more – to go out, full stop. You can’t seriously want me to keep her in now she does have plans?’
Dandruff’s there. Ash can tell. Carla’s voice always sounds different over the phone when her partner is around – a harder edge and no affection. Ash suspects Dandruff doesn’t like Carla talking to her ex-husband. He’d probably prefer it if they didn’t get on.
‘But Josh hasn’t even been buried yet,’ Ash argues.
‘So?’
‘Well, it doesn’t look good, does it?’
‘Would she look less guilty if she stayed at home?’
‘That’s not what I meant,’ Ash lies. Carla will see through him, even over the phone. But he’s pretty sure she’s not thrilled about this either. They’re usually on the same wavelength.
‘This is Millie’s eighteenth birthday party, Ash,’ Carla continues. ‘The girls have been planning this for weeks. Ian and Jo are staying in a hotel for the night so Millie can hold the party at home. There’s no reason Iris should stop having fun just because Josh has … died.’
Stophaving fun? When was the last time Iris had actually had fun? He doesn’t voice his thoughts. This is precisely the point Carla is making. Iris finally wants to go out again. To socialize. They’ve been encouraging her to do just this. They can’t turn around and say no now. And Iris is so happy that everything’s all right between her and Millie again – she was really upset that Millie was avoiding her a few months ago. This will be good for Iris. Carla’s right. As always.
‘It just makes Iris seem a little uncaring, that’s all,’ Ash says. ‘She’s going to be out there celebrating while Josh is lying in a mortuary somewhere.’
‘Uncaring? Why should she care, Ash? So, they went out together once upon a time? It’s been over for almost a year and that kid almost single-handedly wrecked her life.’
Ash wants to point out that that was never proved. But what’s the use? He knows as well as Carla that Josh was behind what happened. He doesn’t want to get into an argument, especially when they’re probably both thinking along the same lines. Carla would get the last word, as ever. So he bites back his retort.
‘She’s not staying over,’ Carla says brightly.
Like that makes it look better. On the plus side, Iris won’t get too drunk if she has to face one of her parents later. ‘In that case, I’ll pick her up, if you like, when the party’s over,’ he offers, half-hoping Carla has already roped Dandruff into doing it.
‘Would you? That’s very good of you, Ash.’ He can hear the triumphant smile in her voice. So that’s why she rang to tell him about the party. ‘Daniel has just got home from his business trip. We appreciate it. I told her one o’clock at the latest.’
Great. It might be the weekend for some people, but he’ll have to get up the next morning. He works on Saturdays. ‘I’ll be there,’ he says, ‘1 a.m. on the dot.’ He waits until Carla has ended the call before adding sarcastically, ‘Could you not have given her a later curfew?’
